Bobby Clarke is without a doubt the most widely recognized and identifable Flyer in team history, and with very good reason. Clarke has for more than 30 years been the heartbeat of the Flyers organization. There have many men that have made a deep impact on the history book of the Fyers, but none have written as many chapters.

Robert Earl Clarke grew up in the small mining town of Flin Flon, Manitoba, where most kids had the choice of two lines of work; mining or hockey. Clarke played hockey just about every day, and became the star of the local hockey squad, the Flin Flon Bombers. There he became the captain, and was lined up with future fellow Flyer and Hall of Famer, Reggie Leach. Clarke became available for the 1969 NHL entry draft, but alot of teams were weary of Clarke's newly diagnosed diabetes. In fact, even the Flyers themselves actually passed up the young Clarke, opting to select Bob Currier with their #6 pick instead. But then GM Bud Poile would not miss the chance to take Clarke with his second pick, #17 overall in the 2nd round.

Poile would not regret his decision to take Clarke, as he would make the Flyers in his very first training camp. He was able to begin coming into his own just as the entire team was starting to gain its infamous reputation as the "Broad Street Bullies". Clarke became the first player from an expansion team to score 100 points in a season during the 1972-73 season, and he would repeat that feat the next two consecutive seasons. Clarke became the captain of the Flyers during the 72-73 campaign, and his 89 assists during the 74-75 and 75-76 seasons stood as the NHL record for centers until Wayne Gretzky broke the mark in 1981. He also won the NHL's Hart Trophy as league MVP in the 72-73, 74-75, and 75-76 seasons.

Clarke's dtermination got a chace to shine on the international stage in 1972 when the Summit Series provided a showdown between the world's top players from Canada and the Soviet Union. Clarke played brilliantly, and hockey fans everywhere began to realize that Clarke was one of the top players not just in the NHL, but in the entire world. But his outstanding play would not be remembered as much as his two-handed stick chop that chipped the bone of the ankle of Valeri Kharlamov. Clarke's outstanding contributions to the team led Canada to a 4-3-1 series win over the Soviets.

But, Clarke was not done with the Soviets. In January of 1976, the Flyers became the only NHL team to defeat the mighty Soviet Red Army squad during their 4 game exhibition series against the NHL's elite. The Flyers were determined to prove that the Soviets could not handle them, and they did just that. Using their signature style of brawling and battering hits, the Flyers frustrated the Soviets so badly that they left the ice in protest to Clarke and the Flyers' tactics.

Clarke led his Flyers teammates to two more Stanley Cup Finals appearances in 1975-76 and 1979-80, unfortunately coming up short both times. He was a nine-time All-Star, and won numerous other awards for his great play and dedication to hockey. Clarke would play his last season in 1983-84, and the Flyers retired his #16 jersey shortly thereafter while Clarke got a huge and extended ovation of gratitude from the Philadelphia fans. He retired as the Flyers all-time leader in points (1210), assists (852), games played (1144), career +/- rating (+506), and shorthanded goals (32). He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in June of 1987, and became a charter member of the Flyers Hall of Fame in March 1988. Every year, the Bobby Clarke Trophy is presented in his honor to the Flyers team MVP.

Today, "Bob" Clarke is the General Manager of the Flyers, and despite the contraversy that has surrounded him at times, he has continually been able to provide the Flyers with top talent and keep the Flyers at a competitive level. Hopefully, under Clarke's leadership, the Flyers will once again be able to reach the pinacle of the sport.